Abstract: An electrochemical cell (e.g., a fuel cell) includes an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte membrane layer disposed between and spacing apart the anode layer and the cathode layer. The electrochemical cell further includes a functional layer disposed at an interface between the cathode layer and the electrode membrane layer. The functional layer includes a composition including a carbon material, an ionomer material, and optionally an amount of catalyst material.

Abstract: A direct air capture (DAC) system includes a porous sorbent structure for CO2 capture, the structure including nanopores sized 4-10 nm forming an interpenetrating network of channels for CO2 access to an interior volume of the sorbent, macropores for CO2 diffusion within the sorbent, and nanoparticles sized about 4-10 nm and located within the network of channels.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes first and second electrodes. The first electrode includes first catalyst particles enhancing activity in the electrochemical cell. The second electrode including second catalyst particles enhancing activity in the electrochemical cell. One or both of the first and second catalyst particles are at least partially encapsulated in a silica encapsulation formed from a precursor of a silicon-based copolymer. The silica encapsulation sustains the activity of the first and/or second catalyst particles.

Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell component includes a bulk portion and a surface portion including a conductive, electrochemically and chemically stable material having one or more compounds of formula (I): La(Ni1-xCux)O3 (I), where 0<=x<=1, the electrochemical cell having a pH>7.

Abstract: An electrochemical system includes a hydrogen diffusion barrier physically separating the system into a hydrogen rich zone and a hydrogen poor zone, an electronic component located in the hydrogen poor zone and exposed to hydrogen diffusing from the hydrogen rich zone, a hydrogen pump, located in the hydrogen rich zone and the hydrogen poor zone, including: a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte separating the cathode and the anode, an anode encapsulation contacting the anode and a portion of the electrolyte, and an external electrical circuit biased to drive H+ current from the anode to the cathode to pump hydrogen diffusing from the hydrogen rich zone into the hydrogen poor zone back into the hydrogen rich zone.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a plurality of components including a membrane electrode assembly including gas diffusion layers, catalyst layers, an exchange membrane, and bipolar plates, the cell being preset to have a target operational relative humidity (RH), and a humidity stabilization system located in or adjacent to at least one of the plurality of components, the system including a hygroscopic material having a critical relative humidity (CRH) value equal to or greater than the target operational RH of the cell.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer (PEWE). The PEWE includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer electrolyte membrane between and separating the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. The PEWE further includes a blocking layer disposed between the cathode catalyst layer and configured to resist unwanted diffusion of ions or molecules through the polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell cathode catalyst layer includes electrocatalyst particles, an electrocatalyst support having an electronically conductive porous material including a plurality of pores with a diameter of less than or equal to 10 nm having a surface morphology comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys, the surface morphology being configured to contain the electrocatalyst particles within the plurality of pores and to enhance mass transport of molecular oxygen to the electrocatalyst particles by adsorbing molecular oxygen to the surface morphology, and an ionomer adhered to the electrocatalyst, the electrocatalyst support, or both.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer (PEWE). The PEWE includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer electrolyte membrane between and separating the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. The PEWE further includes a first blocking layer and/or a second blocking layer. The first blocking layer is disposed between the cathode catalyst layer and configured to resist diffusion of unwanted ions or molecules through the polymer electrolyte membrane. The second blocking layer is disposed between the anode catalyst layer and is configured to resist diffusion of unwanted ions or molecules through the polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a membrane, a catalyzed electrode facing the membrane, the electrode including a magnetic electrocatalyst in contact with an ionomer, an electromagnet, and a controller programmed to activate the electromagnet to form an oscillating magnetic field arranged to selectively increase temperature of the magnetic electrocatalyst, based on one or more conditions, to increase kinetics of a reaction at the catalyzed electrode or remove water from the electrode.

Abstract: An atmospheric CO2 capture system includes a compartment housing a solid CO2 sorbent, an exchange fluid including a chemical component with selectivity towards CO2, and an electrochemical cell in fluid communication with the compartment, the system having a cycle including a first state of sorbing CO2 from incoming air onto the solid CO2 sorbent until a saturation point is reached; a second state of regenerating the sorbent by flooding the compartment with the exchange fluid to detach CO2 from the saturated sorbent and bind the detached CO2 to the chemical component; and a third state of regenerating the chemical component by detaching CO2 from the chemical component in the electrochemical cell and releasing the CO2 from the system.

Abstract: An atmospheric CO2 capture system includes a compartment housing a solid CO2 sorbent, an exchange fluid including a chemical component with selectivity towards CO2, and an electrochemical cell in fluid communication with the compartment, the system having a cycle including a first state of sorbing CO2 from incoming air onto the solid CO2 sorbent until a saturation point is reached; a second state of regenerating the sorbent by flooding the compartment with the exchange fluid to detach CO2 from the saturated sorbent and bind the detached CO2 to the chemical component; and a third state of regenerating the chemical component by detaching CO2 from the chemical component in the electrochemical cell and releasing the CO2 from the system.

Abstract: A high temperature electrochemical cell includes a solid electrolyte separating a cathode and an anode, an anode flow field adjacent the anode, a cathode flow field, having an exhaust gas stream pathway, downstream from the cathode, and a thermal management system including a controller programmed to, in response to the exhaust gas stream temperature input, activate at least one component, configured to reduce temperature of the exhaust gas stream to a temperature within a threshold range corresponding to a temperature range promoting condensation of Cr-containing gas into solid, liquid, or aqueous Cr2O3 and H2CrO4, the high temperature electrochemical cell having an operating temperature of about 600-1000° C.

Abstract: A high temperature electrochemical cell component includes a bulk portion and a surface portion including one or more alkaline earth metal-containing, cobalt free and nickel free, oxides reactive with Cr(HO2)2 such that a most stable reaction between each one of the oxides and the Cr(HO2)2 has a reaction energy of about ?0.1 to ?0.35 eV/at, the oxide(s) being non-reactive with water, the high temperature electrochemical cell having an operating temperature of about 600-1000ºC.

Abstract: A device includes a tribological assembly including first and second mechanical components in relative motion with respect to each other, the assembly having a silver-alloy surface and an additive lubricant including at least one component of the formulas (Ia) or (II): MxNOy (Ia), where M is Ca, V, Sb, Ni, or Ag, x (M:N ratio) is any number between 0.25 and 2, and y (O:N ratio) is any number between 1 and 8; MxSiOy (II), where M is Mg or Al, x (M:Si ratio) is any number between 0.5 and 2, and y (O:Si ratio) is any number between 2.5 and 6, the device being a sealed constant-pressure device.

Abstract: A tribological system includes a tribological contact area including a first tribological contact surface of a first mechanical component and a second tribological contact surface of a second mechanical component, the first and second mechanical components being in relative motion with respect to each other; an external circuit connected to the first and second mechanical components and providing Joule heating; and an additive in contact with the tribological contact area, the additive having a first viscosity in a first state before the external circuit is activated, a second viscosity in a second state when the external circuit is activated to produce Joule heating, and a third viscosity in a third state when the external circuit is deactivated after activation, the second viscosity being lower than the third viscosity.

Abstract: A device includes a tribological assembly including first and second mechanical components in relative motion with respect to each other, the assembly having a silver-alloy surface and an additive lubricant including at least one component of the formulas (Ia) or (II): MxNOy (Ia), where M is Ca, V, Sb, Ni, or Ag, x (M:N ratio) is any number between 0.25 and 2, and y (O:N ratio) is any number between 1 and 8; MxSiOy (II), where M is Mg or Al, x (M:Si ratio) is any number between 0.5 and 2, and y (O:Si ratio) is any number between 2.5 and 6, the device being a sealed constant-pressure device.

Abstract: Microcracked and crack-free catalyst layers such as for electrodes in electrochemical cells (e.g., fuel cells) and method of making the same are disclosed. The microcracks may improve durability by better tolerating stresses without inducing or propagating into macrocracks. The microcracks also improve efficiency by providing reactant (e.g., oxygen) passages to catalyst in the catalyst layer. The microcracks may be formed in a predetermined pattern to further localize additional reactant passages is conventionally starved or more starved locations.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode, and a membrane physically separating the anode from the cathode, the cathode having a cathode catalyst layer including an ionomer and an electrocatalyst support substrate forming an ionomer-support interface having a covalent bond between the substrate and the ionomer via a grafting compound, the substrate further having a plurality of terminated hydrophilic groups.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell (e.g., a fuel cell) includes an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte membrane layer disposed between and spacing part the anode layer and the cathode layer. The electrochemical cell further includes a functional layer disposed at an interface between the cathode layer and the electrode membrane layer. The functional layer includes a composition including a carbon material, an ionomer material, and optionally an amount of catalyst material.